On Occult Philosophy or the Secret Miraculous Birth of the Seven Planets and Metals

burial and had erected in the church of Proserpina in the Orient. There came a spirit called Adad, who blew upon the ashes with force in the middle of the temple where the altar of the offering stood, and the breath was very warm. As soon as the ashes stirred again, and a living animal became of it, at which many high people marveled. It had many feathers on its arms and legs, the head was also adorned with feathers, and two powerful serpents had embraced its body up to the top. The feet were surrounded with serpents, the wings hung on its legs, and all the country folk and the inhabitants marveled at the animal, and no one knew how to give it a name. Then suddenly a lightning bolt happened from above, and a bright, understandable voice called into it: You shall not marvel at what the animal should be called. I am a swift message to announce to you the new tidings, and I am called Steilbon, a messenger dispatched from the Highest to announce the name of the animal and its nature,